Archive | December, 2016

Colombo, Sri Lanka – The Old Boys' Union of St. Peter's College had its Honours Night on Saturday, February 13, 2016, at the College Hall for the 6th time with a distinguished Old Peterite, Prof. Rohan Jayasekera as the Chief Guest. The OBU has been honouring members who have reached eminence in their chosen professions and in the field of sports thereby brining honour to their Alma Mater and the first time the Peterite OBU organised an Honours night was way back in 1984 during the presidency of Mr. Mano Chanmugam and 72 Old Peterites were honoured on that occasion. Since then four such Honours nights have been held in 1988, 1997, 2002 and 2006 at which 284 eminent Old Boys have been honoured.

The Chief Guest for the occasion, himself a proud product of St. Peter’s College, Prof. Rohan Jayasekara (MBBS; PhD (N’Cle. UK); C.Biol; FRSB (Lond); Hon. FCSSL) is the Emeritus Professor of Anatomy, Medical Geneticist, Faculty of Medicine, University of Colombo. He is a Fellow of the Galton Institute, London, aChartered Biologist and Fellow of the Royal Society of Biology, London, an Honorary Fellow of the College of Surgeons of Sri Lanka, Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery from the University of Ceylon, a Commonwealth Research Scholar, has a PhD in Cytogenetics from the Department of Human Genetics, University of Newcastle upon Tyne. UK. and much more.

At the conclusion of the opening ceremony that included the lighting of the traditional oil lamp, speeches by the President of the OBU, Mr. Romeish de Mel, the Rector of St. Peter’s College, Rev. Fr. Trevor Martin and the Chief Guest Prof. Rohan Jayasekara, Peterite Honours were awarded to 73 eminent Old Boys at this glittering night under 11 categories namely Medicine, Law, Higher Education, Armed Forces, Public Administration, Banking, Entrepreneurship, Trade & Commerce, Art, Horticulture, Sports. There were also 3 special awards presented to Emeritus Rector, Rev. Father Travis Gabriel and two others who had rendered long and loyal service (over 40 years) to St. Peter’s.

Among these recipients were 3 who were honoured posthumously while there were several who had come from Australia, Canada, England, USA and Oman. Upali Obeyesekere of Toronto was also one of the recipient in the "Trade & Commerce" Category.

The Honours award ceremony came to a close with the vote of thanks delivered by the Hony. General Secretary of the OBU and this was followed singing of the National Anthem and cocktails and fellowship for all present.

Further to our earlier report on the Honours Night, at the request of many, particularly overseas fans, I give below the list of those who received Peterite Honours this year at the Honours Night held on 13th February.

It has been brought to my notice that one or two past presidents of JPAA are going around saying that they are co-founders of the Josephian-Peterite Alumni Association. Taking ownership to what rightfully does not belong to you is both comical and unethical. As the founder of this organization it is my fiduciary duty to place on record the following facts. I leave it to the reader to make his or her own conclusion.

It was Upali Obeyesekere, an Old Peterite who came up with the idea of starting an Ad-Hoc Committee of alumni from both St. Peter's College & St. Joseph's College domiciled in Toronto. Please read "About Us" on this site for more details. The thought turned into an action that brought about a result. The rest is history.

Initially, Upali had informal discussions with his close friend from back home Benito de Silva, an Old Josephian. The two deliberated and came to the conclusion that conceptually the timing was opportune for this project to get off the ground. Upali and Benito then set out to pick a cohesive team from the two schools to take the project to execution stage. This brought about the Ad-Hoc Committee that was formed in 1984 and functioned until 1992.

Members of the Ad-Hoc then decided to formalise JPAA and make it a member driven Not-For-Profit Corporation. Accordingly, in 1993 the organization was structured as a Not-For-Profit Organization and subsequently incorporated on May 8th, 1996. A set of by-laws and constitution of Josephian-Peterite Alumni Association was instituted by the 1993 Executive Committee headed by inaugural president Upali Obeyesekere.

Getting to the point, the founder of Josephian-Peterite Alumni Association is Upali Obeyesekere and Co-Founder is Benito de Silva. The stakeholders of the JPAA are the paid members who are in good standing of Josephian-Peterite Alumni Association.

The 80th annual cricket encounter between St.Joseph's College and St.Peter's College which is also known as the 'Battle of the Saints' played for the Rev .Fr. Maurice Legoc Trophy will herald another series of 'big' encounters among schools. This match will be played on March 7th and 8th (2014) at the P. Sara Oval commencing at 9.30 am each day.

Both teams have taken a decision, like in the recent past to restrict the number of overs for 60 only in the first innings which has made a huge difference in the outcome of the game. With the restriction of the first innings to 60 overs system, it has made the match more interesting and result oriented.

During the past six encounters there have been results on three occasions. In the overall 79 big match series between the two schools, St.Joseph's have won 20 to the Peterites 17. The Joes last won in 2013 under Sachin Hewawasam and the Peterites last savoured a win in 2012 under under Shehan Fernando.

The two teams seem to be on par with an unbeaten record, this season with the Joes winning three matches outright and the Peterites winning two. For the Bambalapitiya school, Dineth Thimodya with 1000 runs including two centuries against D.S. Senanayake and Ananda and skipper Kavinda de Tissera (762 runs) also with two centuries and deputy Janith Liyanage (763) with a hundred have done the bulk of the scoring.

Among the bowlers, Sahan Nanayakkara has captured over 85 wickets with his left-arm leg-spin and ably supported by off-spinner Vini Mohotty who has taken 42 wickets. Vice Captain Janith Liyanage, besides his batting, has taken over 30 wickets with his medium pace.For the Joes skipper Dylan Fernandopulle has been the highest scorer (659) with a top-score of 90. Middle order batsman Pathum Madusanaka is their sole centurion (107).

St.Joseph's were without the services of two of their key players Sadeera Samarawickrema and Priyamal Perera who were most of the time out with the under 19 team representing the country at the Under 19 Asia Cup and later the Under 19 World Cup played in Dubai.

Priyamal Perera, in the seven matches he played for his school, has made 394 runs with four fifties and Samarawickrema in his seven matches, had scored 155 runs. Both, Samarawickrema and Perera will be available for their 'Big' encounter and their inclusion should make the Joes a stronger outfit while meeting their traditional rivals..

The Joes will heavily depend on the spin of Aravinda Akurugoda who has taken over 40 wickets and Priyamal Perera with 26 wickets. Malshan Rodrigo and Hashindra Perera both with 29 wickets apiece should form an effective spin combination.

The highest individual score in the series is by former Peterite and Leicestershire professional Clive Inman who struck an unbeaten 204 in 1954.

For the Joes, Hareen Silva scored an unbeaten 141 in the 2009 big match. Under the leadership of Kitto Fernandopulle in 1979, left hander Rohan Buultjens hit twin unbeaten hundreds (109 in the 1st innings and 100 n.o in the 2nd innings) a unique achievement difficult to surpass.

Josephian Shenal Warnakula holds the record for the best individual bowling effort. In the 1997 encounter Warnakula took 9 for 41, surpassing Peterite Dion Walles' 9 for 53 in 1947. Peterite Cyril Dias also took 9 for 64 wickets in an innings in 1933. Peterites Dinesh Kekulthota (8 for 16 in 1990) and Gerald Solomons also from Peter's had the bowling fiogures of 7 for 43 in the 1973 encounter.

Besides Warnakula's 9 for 41, Rajive Benedict 8 for 6 in 1972 and Ranjith Malawana 8 for 57 in 1957 are notable bowling performances for the Josephians.

The annual Josephian-Peterite big match media conference was held yesterday at the St. Joseph’s Auditorium in Darley Road. The two day match is set to be played on the 07th & 08th March 2014 at the P.Sara Stadium (Oval) Colombo starting 09.30 a.m.

St. Joseph’s College rector Rev.Fr. Travis Gabriel addressing the media stated that this event will build a strong bond, friendship and unity as a one catholic family which will be the salient feature of this big event played for the Rev. Fr. Mourice Le-goc memorial trophy.

This year too there will be only 60 overs per team in the first innings of play and a maximum of 105 overs to be bowled at the end of day one.

The tally thus far is St. Joseph’s have won 12 matches as their last win was in 2008 under Ruwantha Fernandopulle and St. Peter’s have won just 09 and their last win was under Shehan Fernando in 2012.

It was also announced that Mr. Asoka Jayamanne who was the Joes captain in 1988 will be the chief guest.

The 40th Joe-Pete limited over match will be played for the Rev. Fr. Peter A. Pillai Memorial challenge shield in the following week which will be at the Kettarama Stadium on 15th March 2014 at 09.30 a.m.

Once again Joes leads the overall tally winning 20 to Pete’s 17 in the 50 over format of the game.

Mr. Niranjan Rodrigo, the Peterite captain in 1982 will be the chief guest for this one day encounter.

The main sponsor and co-sponsors are to be announced in the future.

Rev. Fr. Trevor Martin rector of St. Peter’s said that this is the time for all the Peterites and Joes to combine for the biggest get together in the year. In addition the old boys who live overseas of both colleges are expected in numbers at the R.Premadasa Stadium to show their bond and utmost passion for the respective colleges.

A cycle parade and a vehicle parade is usually organized by both schools on the day of the ODI fixture and this year too both schools are in the process of organizing it in a huge way.

ThePapare.com will be live streaming the 80th Battle of the Saints and stay tuned for previews, reviews and in sites of the both teams.

Realization has gradually dawned on me that I am old, very old. Now, that I am 84 years, keeping young is problematic. It is fortunate that I am still restless, still anxious to learn and a voracious reader. Recollections of my early childhood bring back memories of attending the kindergarten standards one and two at Holy Family Convent Bambalapitiya. I remember mother Cazima, an awesome and burly nun, who maintained strict discipline amongst us.

It was time to move. The obvious choice was St. Peter’s College Colombo 4. In the late 1930s, St. Peter’s had no kindergarten hence the necessity to attend Holy Family. Boys I remember were Tony Don Michael, Ralph Forbes, Daffy Ingleton, Jeff Gamier and Jimmy Barucha.

On the first day, my mother handed me over to the Principal of the Primary School, Father Arthur Fernando. He was a great organiser and disciplinarian but he also had that uncanny knack of knowing what young boys liked.

I remember the Horlicks drink, we had at 10 a.m. Standard three was entry point to St. Peter’s. My class teacher was Mrs. Fernando. She was able to get the best out of some pretty distracted young boys. Then I settled down to work and discovered a penchant for English Language, Literature, History, Geography and Arithmetic. To my amazement, I found myself amongst the first three in the class. I moved the following year to Standard four.

Mr. V.B.M. de Silva was our class master. I found I was studious. However, do not run away with the idea that we were bookworms. We liked sports – cricket fascinated us. I remember adulating those cricket stalwarts – Tiger Ephraims, R.A. Stork, A. Kuthdoos and Eric Schokman. They were our Greek Gods. We ourselves played cricket, ran races and played marbles. Like my sisters, I was musical. I started playing the violin at the age of six under the tutelage of Mr. Oscar Wagn. At school, I played in concerts organised by Ms. Lalitha Savundaranayagam. I had a fairly good singing voice and sang in the choir. I also discovered I could act and took part in plays.

Days rolled by, 1939 and 1940 came and went. World War II started in 1939. The Japanese entered the World War in 1941 and then conquered most of the countries in South-East Asia and South Asia. The Philippines, Malaysia and Singapore had fallen. There was bitter fighting in Burma. Sri Lanka was exposed.

Lo and Behold! We were informed towards the middle of 1941 that St. Peter’s College amongst other schools would be taken over by the British Armed Forces. I still remember that last day in school, where we bade farewell to our teachers and class friends. I remember walking back disconsolately to my home down Skelton road. This was something our young minds could not comprehend.

My father was in 1941, the District Medical Officer in Tangalle. Our family was evacuated there. This was a double blow. No familiar school and classrooms and no familiar house and garden. Having got used to the school routine in Colombo it was difficult to adjust. I had Sinhala language classes from the Sinhala Vidyalaya close to our house in Tangalle.

English and Arithmetic were taught by my mother and two elder sisters. My sisters on the piano and myself on the violin also helped us to relax and enjoy. My Father had an extensive library from which I read a number of books and magazines thus enhancing my knowledge.

To my relief, we went back to Colombo at the beginning of 1943. St. Peter’s had two branches — one at St. Mary’s Church Dehiwala and the other, a smaller branch at the Bambalapitiya Seminary, which now houses the Bambalapitiya Flats and a shopping complex. As Bambalapitiya was closer to us, I was sent to this branch in 1943. The classrooms were rather rudimentary and had thatched roofs and half walls of cadjan. When it rained hard, we would get wet. I entered Form 1. Mano Chanmugam, joined us in Form 1 and became a great friend of ours.

Our class teacher was Mr. Cyril Ekanayake, probably one of the most distinctive teachers we were destined to get. It was Cyril who introduced us to the Classics at an early age. He taught us English Language and Literature, Latin, History, Geography, Arithmetic and even Elementary Science. I have still to meet such a versatile teacher as Cyril. He introduced us to the brilliance of Shakespearian plays, the sheer beauty of the poetry of Milton, Wordsworth, Shelly and Keats. He had that rare ability of transforming something dull into an interesting topic. He hand-picked seven of us and we became his “Glory Boys”. He also got us to read great humourists like Steven Leacock and P.G. Wodehouse. He provided us with novels and plays of James Hilton, Bernard Shaw, G.K. Chesterton, Dorothy L. Sayers, Agatha Christie and Ngaio Marsh. Cyril followed us right upto 1945. There were other great teachers such as Mr. W.B. de Alwis, A.P. de Mel and two priests whose names I have momentarily forgotten.

It wasn’t always work with Cyril.

He even coached us in Cricket, though he never played the game. Some of those who started cricket under him were Herby (H.I.K.) Fernando, Phil Kelly, Denzil Abeysekera, Ago Paiva and Tony Don Michael.

In 1946, we left Bambalapitiya for the Dehiwala branch and another set of class teachers. I remember Foster Stave, Herbert Wittachchi (Cricket Coach as well), Ambrose ‘better known as Apple’, Priests like Father Basil Wiratunga (Vice-Rector), Father Alex Ranasinghe and our great Founder Rector Father Nicholas Perera also taught us. Foster Stave was always immaculately dressed.

He had a distinctive accent. An answer given by one of my classmates was a downright lie. But Foster gently said “My dear Chap, that’s a terminological inexactitude”. Tony Pieris and Anselm Abeyeratne left St. Peter’s for St. Joseph’s about this time.

1946, 1947 and 1948 were the years when the St. Peter’s College Cricket Team were undisputed champions in school cricket. Prior to this, my first cousins Anton and Maurice Perera were players in the college cricket team. Anton was a fantastic batsman and Maurice a genuine all-rounder.

Dion Walles led St. Peter’s to victory in almost every match we played. If Dion had stayed back in Sri Lanka, I’m sure he would have become an outstanding Sri Lankan Cricketer.

The next event of note was the end of World War II and the Armed Services leaving our schools. St. Peter’s was quickly reconstructed and refurbished. It was good to be back in familiar surroundings. Another set of teachers Sueter Pieris, Granville Senanayake, Herbert Wittachchi were there to teach us. Priests like Fathers Noel Crusz, Dharmaratne, Mervyn Weerakody, and Theodore Peiris were there to guide us. Father Nicholas Perera had passed away and Father Basil Wiratunga was the new Rector. The inimitable George de Niese was our Art and Music teacher.

Father Mervyn and he had an on-going rivalry. Mano and I were Bases and Tony was Tenor in the senior choir. Unfortunately we had two conductors Father Mervyn and George de Niese. We managed to sing our solo parts, but for the rest the two conductors were a source of confusion and amusement. Besides our studies, we had a very interesting and busy schedule. Mano and I became joint secretaries of the Music, Drama & Art society. Father Noel Crusz was dynamic and a go-getter. I recollect the play “Pontine Marshes” and the fabulous concert titled “Musical Cavalcade”. Father Basil took our religious knowledge class and I was a thoroughly distracted student. I vaguely remembered Father Basil asking me what the 7 steps to priesthood were? Pat! came my answer “Brother, Deacon, Archdeacon, Priest, Monsignor, Cardinal and Pope. Then an eerie silence followed and to my amazement, I heard a chuckle which became a roar of laughter from Father Basil. He responded “If that is so, I would have been Pope by now”.

Father Basil besides being a deeply religious and devout priest also had a subtle sense of humour. He was an all-round sportsman. I remember playing tennis with him when I was in the University Entrance forms. After the Senior School Certificate, Tony and I sat for the last London Matriculation held in Sri Lanka in 1948 and we were two out of three students who passed from a quota of 76 students. To enter University, we had to complete the Higher School Certificate Examination in two years. If you did well it was the passport to enter university and the medical college. We had Mr. A.P. Gomes for Chemistry and Physics and Mr. John and Mr. Morrel for Botany and Zoology respectively.

Ashley Halpe joined St. Peter’s in the University Entrance form. He entered University doing science subjects. However, he convinced the selection board that he should join the Arts Faculty and do English as his Major. What an amazing career he had; Straight As at every exam he sat for. He got his PhD in English and was the first in the batch. He joined University as a lecturer in English at the Faculty of Arts, Peradeniya.

He became a Professor of English at a very young age. Ashley’s varied and diverse interests included Art, Poetry and Plays.

Ashley became a cornerstone at Peradeniya University. He was loved by his students. He also rose to be Dean of the Faculty of Arts. Unfortunately Ashley has left us after a brief illness leaving a deep void in our lives.

As for Tony and me, medical careers loomed ahead. Mano entered the Ampitiya Seminary but later re-entered civilian life and became a highly qualified Construction Engineer. He is even now a much sort after consultant. Mano, Tony, Ashley and I remained excellent friends and we moved in a coterie where our interests included Art, Music, Literature, Poetry and even Sports.

I wish I could go back to St. Peter’s, one still moon-lit night and sit in the middle quadrangle. I’m sure that if I close my eyes, the classrooms and corridors will come alive with the school boys and teachers of yester-year. We can momentarily relive those glorious days, we shared together

– See more at: http://www.dailymirror.lk/111543/The-St-Peter-s-College-I-knew-and-loved#sthash.D3UNZEEF.dpuf

My interest in rugby was spurred on in my very early years by Ago Paiva as I lived close to his home. There was a fairly large green available to boys of my age and we were inspired by Ago to make the grade in rugby. For the record, Ago played both rugby and cricket for college and his halves combination with Mahes Rodrigo at the base of the scrum, was undoubtedly the best both the CR & FC and the Ceylon rugby teams had at the time. I was selected in the college rugby team in 1957 and it included Jayantha Fernando, Christie Marathalingam, Russell Duckworth, Desmond Dharmarajah, Brian Seneviratne and Adiel Anghie, who played dual roles of also being outstanding cricketers. We had a good reputation as a competitive side and we got the better of many schools that year, except Trinity College. As we knew, Trinity was last beaten years earlier by teams in which our legendary coach at the time, Archibald Perera, played.

By: Tony Johnson – Peterite Ruggerite

I must specifically speak about a very outstanding performance we had against the Royal College XV in 1959. Our team was rated far below than that of the very star-studded Royalists, including players such as Maurice Anghie, HS & Lalin Silva and Tony Rankine. Royal had beaten a strong Trinity team in the first round of the Bradley Shield and no doubt thought that beating our comparatively inexperienced team was going to be a mere formality. However, we got stuck into Royal from the word go, starting with their talented fly half Maurice Anghie being sidelined with injury following a fairly hard tackle from me and the other wing forward Hatim Dawoodbhoy. This had a demoralising effect on Royal and was the incentive for us to play as we had never played before. Didacus de Almeida and Donald Dissanayake, our centre-three quarters tackled as they had never tackled. It was important that they did so since the Royal forwards such as HS and Lalin were undoubtedly taller and bigger than any of us and were able to dominate the line outs. Tony Rankine replaced Maurice Anghie as fly half and he was given a pretty hard time by Hatim and me, so all told their formidable three-quarters were literally at a standstill. With this impetus we went on to lead Royal until almost the final whistle when they were able to draw the match due to a penalty awarded against us. This totally unexpected and outstanding overall performance against Royal received plenty of press coverage, and it is a match Fritsz Ohlmus, Dida and I always talked about when we met socially. On the humorous side our coach, Archibald Perera, had many things to say to us following one game. Archie addressing Hatim, said: “I say Dawoodbhoy, you are very fond of fowl”! And when asked the reason for this statement, Archie said: “You had that fowl under your arm which you wanted to have for dinner, so although you had a man on the left and the right of you, you just did not get rid of it – which in this instance was really the rugby ball that you had so firmly grasped in both your hands.”

RUGBY
With the curtains coming down on Club Rugby and the Schools Rugby Tournament occupying center stage, it is time to take a stroll down memory lane and recount the past Rugby Players of Schools and Clubs who have contributed immensely to this sport.

The first name that comes to my mind is

DARREL WIMALARATNE,
The unassuming ruggerite who captained St. Peter’s College, CH & FC, and represented the Low Country in the Capper Cup, and also Sri Lanka. Darrel also played for Colombo Schools and Combined Schools as a fly half. Having left school, first played for Havelocks SC and then joined CH & FC and went on t become the third Ceylonese Rugby Captain after Lorensz Pereira and Brian Baptist. CH & FC was, previously, an exclusively expatriate club catering to the English. When Darrel captained CH & FC he had some great rugby caps, viz:

The Up Country team was captained by ROHAN ABEYSUNDERA, a tall and hefty forward from St. Peter’s College who also went on to represent the Country.

Darrel was also selected to play for Ceylon against England.

Hadjie Omar captained a National Side which included,
JEYER RODRIGUEZ
ROHAN ABEYSUNDERA
ROYDEN DE SILVA
DARREL WIMALARATNE
DIDACUS DE ALMEIDA

All from St. Peter’s College.

DARREL’s CRICKET CAREER
Darrel was also an outstanding cricket player who played for St. Peter’s College as an opening batsman and opening bowler and went on to captain his alma mater and had in his team such greats as:-

He also played for the Sri Lanka Schools Team under the captaincy of Anura Tennekoon. Having left school he joined Colombo Colts Cricket Club and later the Colombo Cricket Club and played with distinction. He is also a qualified Level 2 Cricket Coach, accredited to the Australian Cricket Board, and has functioned as head coach of St. Peter’s College who won the Schools Limited Over Championship. He also coached the Tamil Union and the Sinhalese Sports Club, later on.

Darrel, a naturally talented sportsman was a dashing fly half and a center three quarter who began his rugby career at St. Peter’s College, Bambalapitiya and represented his alma mater from 1963, and captained his school in 1965, playing in te pivotal position of fly half. He had, in his young side some brilliant rugby players, such as:

ROYDEN DE SILVA
A towering second row forward who went on to captain Havelocks Sports Club and also represented the country at Rugby and Basketball.

AUBREY PATTERNOTT
Another giant of a second row forward who later turned up for Havelocks, Dimbulla, CH & FC and the Ceylon Barbarians, is now living in Australia.

RONNIE GUNARATNE
A hard running center three quarter, who later played for UVA and CR & FC and presently the Vice President of the CR & FC. He is also a top cricket administrator with Sri Lanka Cricket.

HAMZIE HAMID
A public schools sprint champion who played as a flying winger, and went on to captain the Combined School’s Team, and later played for the CR & FC and Ceylon. He is now a successful businessman in Canada.

M JAINUDEEN
Was selected to play as Scrum Half for Colombo Schools.

DURAND BECKMEYER
Another fast winger now living in Canada.

RODNEY PATTERNOTT
A well built center three quarter, who later played for Havelocks Sprots Club, CR & FC, and the Presidents XV against foreign teams. He coached St. Thomas’ College Mount Lavinia and was an ‘A’ Division referee. He now lives in Australia.

RAJAN RAJENDRAN
A fast breaking wing forward and a hard tackler who continued his rugby at CR & FC and Kandy SC.

D WAKISHTA
Another crash tackling wing forward who later played for the University and CR & FC.

Dr. PARAMSOTHY
A well built wing forward who later played for the University, CR & FC, and Air Force, now practicing Medicine in Canada.

MICHAEL DE NIESE
A sturdy prop forward who later migrated to Australia and became a Professor but passed away at an early age.

CHRIS RAZEL
Another strong Prop Forward.

CHELLIAH NIRMALENDRAN
A dusky Hooker who is now in England.

JAMES ALAGARATNAM
An exciting No. 8 now living in Canada.

MERVYN FERNANDO
A lock forward now in the USA.

EVERARD HOFFMAN
A solid full back with a safe pair of hands who represented Colombo Schools and Havelocks SC. Now settled in Australia.

DENNIS KILLERLY
Another center three quarter now living down under in Australia.

HAROLD JANSZ
Another young Wing Forward.This champion team coached by the legendary Archibald Perera and was hailed by all as the best St. Peter’s College Rugby Team since WW II.

A two-member delegation comprising JPAA President Upali Obeyesekere and Immediate Past-President Christy Joseph visited Rev. Fr. Travis Gabriel last May (2015) at the Rector's office and handed over a bank draft in the $2000.00 to Fr. Travis for infrastructure development work at St. Joseph's College.

JPAA Canada holds the distinction of been the first Sri Lanka Schools' Association to be formed in Canada, in 1984. Going on its 32nd year, the association has plans to help both schools (St. Joseph's College and St. Peter's College) with donations meant primarily for infrastructure improvements. Both schools have been the beneficiary in the tune of over one-million rupees each, since JPAA was formed in 1984. JPAA Canada is also the only "Joint" Alumni Association for the Josephians and Peterites in the world. An enviable record that shows that working together is better than working against each other.

" Helping the Alma Mater is a dominant mandate of JPAA Canada", says President Upali Obeyesekere. "This is the least we could do towards the great institution which gave us sound education and taught us the basic values of life and living with each other", he added.

Overseas branches of both schools are in existence in Canada, USA, U.K., Australia, UAE and a few other countries. Besides providing a forum for the alumni to meet and greet each other in their adopted country of choice, overseas branches have been a source of monetary help to the alma mater over the years.